I hope you will forgive me for ROFL!! (rolling on the floor laughing).  Not
at you, Barbara, but at the line your hospital fed you.  Using this logic,
they would give away free inpatient care, ambulatory services (including
outpatient x-rays, Lab tests, etc., etc.,)

This happens to be one of my personal GIANT PEEVES (yup, I'm shouting).  I,
too, work in a non-profit hospital.  Apparently there is some type of
accounting procedure that makes it non-profit, because a hospital with a red
bottom line does not stay open.  It's high time that when hospitals choose to
give away services (for public good will) that they charge them to the
marketing department.  Providing "free" services is a great way to get a pink
slip when the next reduction in force comes around.

Here's what I learned about "not charging" from the dietitians.  Dietitians
did not get included in the Medicare act, hence we do not exist for all
practical purposes.  We woke up and now are spending mega bucks and lots of
lobbying time to try to be sure this won't happen again.

If you don't charge for your services, you technically do not exist.  Period.

If you charge for your services, you may be reimbursed or you may be denied
coverage from third party payors.  Either way, you will be entered into "life
via computer".  To not be a field in someone's computer is certain death.
 Better to charge and be denied than to not charge at all.  Charging also
establishes some value to your service.  Unfortunately, people do not value
free services.

In the absence of charging, make sure that every patient hears something to
this effect from you: "If you are happy that you were able to come and have
this service, I would encourage you to write to the CEO of the hospital and
tell her.  Patient opinions carry a lot of weight in this hospital, so your
comments will help me continue to offer this service." Be sure to have the
comments sent to the CEO.  This way, they will filter down  through the
system and the maximum number of people will see it.

Talk to your management engineering people (the folks who study
productivity).  They may be able to help you figure out your worth.  If
private practice LCs in your area are charging, the hospital should too.  One
hospital in Dayton charges in-patients for LC services.  It is a paltry $20.
 If the insurance pays, fine.  If it does not, the cost is not sent on to the
patient.  (This needs to be worked out with billing).

Good Luck (by the way, I am fighting a similar battle.  Today, my boss told
my partner that she needs to be bringing in more $$ because she is not seeing
enough patients to pay her salary).  Mind you, the inpatient dietitians do
not charge at all (we are outpatient-- I have been trying to get them to let
me charge for LC work, but so far have been unsuccessful) !!  When I started
in 1985, we charged $14 per visit (no time length).  We still undercharge for
our time (in my opinion).  Dietetic training and LC training is similar to OT
and PT training and in this area they were charging about $135 per hour a
year ago when I did a survey. (I hope it is OK to put this out).

Hopping down from ye olde soape boxxe
Queen Martha of $$$ R Deity and IBCLC Supreme (Hear the heavy sarcasm here?)